Homeless Support

Kauai County Housing Agency (KCHA) Homeless Support

During the 2023 Point In Time count (2023 Kauai County Point in Time Count Topline Report(PDF, 298KB)), 488 individuals were identified as homeless, 77 of which were keiki.

NEWS

NR 05-09-23 Blessing held for start of Lima Ola Supportive Housing Project on Tuesday(PDF, 1MB)

NR 11-01-22: November is Homelessness Awareness Month(PDF, 908KB)

NR 07-22-22: Blessing held for Mana Olana Emergency and Transitional Shelter Improvements project on Friday(PDF, 1MB)

NR 04-07-22: Kaua‘i County Housing Agency announces the release of Bridging The Gap’s 2022 Point-In-Time Count report. For the link to the report please click here: 2022 Point-In-Time Count(PDF, 186KB)

NR 11-15-21 Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week runs through Nov. 21, 2021(PDF, 1MB)

NR 03-01-21: Coordinated outreach services being offered to homeless community as beach parks transition out of Shelter in Place Program(PDF, 169KB)

NR 02-16-21: Officials begin transition back to recreational camping at county parks; ‘Shelter in Place’ camping permit program to be discontinued(PDF, 181KB)

NR 12-03-20: Families move into Kealaula on Pua Loke(PDF, 147KB)

NR 11-05-20: Various agencies to offer outreach services to homeless community during week of Nov. 16-20(PDF, 149KB)

2020 Kauai County Point in Time Count Topline Report(PDF, 294KB)

RESOURCES

HCV (Housing Choice Vouchers): The HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly the Section 8 Program) is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. For more information, please visit the Housing Agency’s webpage on Section 8 Rental Assistance.

VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing): The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA provides these services for participating Veterans at VA medical centers (VAMCs), community-based outreach clinics (CBOCs), through VA contractors, or through other VA designated entities.

On Kaua‘i please contact Todd Gordon at the Līhu‘e VA Clinic at:

Phone: 808-246-0497 or Email: todd.gordon3@va.gov

Location: 4485 Pahe'e Street, Suite 150, Lihue, HI 96766-2018

Kealaula on Pua Loke:

In partnership with the State of Hawaii, the Kauai County Housing Agency opened Kealaula on Pua Loke in November 2020. This project offers permanent supportive housing with on-site case management provided by Women In Need (WIN). For more information on this project, click here (link: https://homelessness.hawaii.gov/ohana-zones/kealaula-on-pua-loke/).

Kealaula is currently at full occupancy. To inquire about waitlist availability, please contact Kealaula Housing Director, Sharon Graham of Women In Need at 855-5360 or sharon.winkauai@gmail.com.

Kaua’i Community Alliance (KCA):

About: KCA is recognized by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the primary group in Kauai County serving the homeless. Members include key non-profit agencies (Catholic Charities Hawaii, Family Life Center, Kauai Economic Opportunity, YWCA, US Vets, Women in Need, Malama Pono, the Kauai County Housing Agency and others) serving the homeless and advocating for affordable housing. KCA members also include individuals who are or were homeless, businesses, faith-based groups and others.

Connect with them via Facebook. (Link: https://www.facebook.com/KauaiCommunityAlliance)

Bridging The Gap (BTG): The Hawaii balance-of-state Continuum of Care (CoC) is known as Bridging the Gap (BTG). BTG is a geographically based group of relevant stakeholder representatives that carries out the operating and planning responsibilities of the CoC program. To find further data on Kaua’i’s homeless, please visit btghawaii.org.

Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions (OHHS): The Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness is the point person for all homeless issues in the state as part of the Hawai’i Department of Human Services. This position also serves as the Chair of the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness. To learn more about homelessness across the state, please visit homelessness.hawaii.gov.

Project HiEHiE Hygiene Trailer Blessing at Salt Pond Beach Park, April 9, 2021

Blessing held Friday April 9th for mobile hygiene trailer

LĪHUʻE – Project Vision Hawaiʻi, in partnership with the County of Kauaʻi Housing Agency, held a blessing ceremony Friday, for a mobile hygiene trailer that will offer free hot showers for individuals experiencing homelessness on Kauaʻi.

For the full press release click here: Blessing held Friday for mobile hygiene trailer 4-12-2021(PDF, 1MB)

photo of Grace Meek placing a lei on Bob Wardlaw

Project Vision Hawaii staff Grace Meek and Bob Wardlaw

photo of people at the blessing ceremony

HiEHiE mobile hygiene trailer blessing ceremony at Salt Pond beach park April 9, 2021.

photo of Project Vision Hawaii staff members

Project Vision Hawaii staff members in front of the HiEHiE mobile hygiene trailer - April 9, 2021.

photo of two Housing Agency staff members

Kauai County Housing Agency staff members Kerrilyn Barros, CDBG Grant Coordinator and Ashton Varner Homeless Support Program Coordinator.